Pivoted head, slidable side jaw wrench having ratchet-type actuating means



A. E. ORR PIVOTED HEAD, SLIDABLE SIDE JAW WRENCH HAVING RATCHET-TYPE ACTUATING MEANS Sept. 19, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 2, 1959 All/e E Orr INVENTOR. BY 9mm Mary EM n/L r M I Sept. 19, 1961 A. E. ORR 3,000,245

PIVOTED HEAD, SLIDABLE SIDE JAW WRENCH HAVING RATCHET-TYPE ACTUATING MEANS Filed Sept. 2, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 All/i9 E. Orr

1N VENTOR.

m {@WEMam United States Patent 1 3,000,245 PIVOTED HEAD, 'SLIDABLE SIDE IAW WRENCH HAVING RATC'HET-TYPE ACTUATING MEANS Allie E. Orr, Orr Boat & Gun Shop, 1005 S. St. An-

drews St., Dothan, Ala., assignor of twenty-five percent to J eff Orr and twenty-five percent to J. E. Buntin, both of Dothan, Ala.

Filed Sept. 2, 1959, Ser. No. 837,623 11 Claims. (Cl. 81-63:.2)

This invention relates to a novel and useful ratcheting end wrench, and more particularly to an end wrench which is capable of functioning as a ratchet wrench while either tightening or loosening a nut or bolt.

Heretofore ratcheting end wrenches have been restricted to wrenches having fixed jaws and a ratcheting mechanism enabling the wrench to be used as a ratchet wrench while tightening and loosening a nut or bolt, or they have been limited to end wrenches having movable jaws and a ratcheting mechanism enabling the wrench to be used as a ratchet wrench while either tightening or loosening a nut or bolt.

The ratcheting end wrench having fixed jaws has a decided disadvantage since an individual wrench can be used only on nuts or bolts of one size requiring that a mechanic or similar workman have wrenches for each size nut or bolt he might be expected to work with. On the other hand, the ratcheting wrench having movable jaws operable as a ratchet wrench while turning a nut or bolt in only one direction has a disadvantage in that such a wrench must be removed and turned over to turn the nut or bolt in the opposite direction. In some instances, a wrench of this type would be highly undesirable, such as when working with pressure valves, since it is often necessary to quickly reverse the rotation of a nut or bolt.

The main object of this invention is to provide an open ended wrench having movable jaws with a ratcheting mechanism enabling the wrench to be used as a ratchet wrench to turn a nut or bolt in one direction without having to remove the wrench from the nut or bolt with which it is engaged.

A further object of this invention, in accordance with the preceding object, is to provide a ratcheting end wrench having a movable jaw resiliently urged towards a stationary jaw and a means for limiting the movement of the movable jaw toward the stationary jaw whereby the wrench may be easily placed in engagement with a nut or bolt in the same manner as is an open-ended wrench.

Still another object, in accordance with the immediately preceding object, is to provide a limiting means which is adjustable so as to be able to preset the wrench to retain its jaws a predetermined distance apart thereby enabling the wrench to be engaged with a nut or bolt of a particular size without having to move one of the jaws of the wrench away from the other to provide a sufilcient opening to receive the nut or bolt.

A final object to be specifically enumerated herein is to provide a ratcheting end wrench having adjustable jaws and a ratchet mechanism which may be reversed to enable the wrench to be utilized as a ratchet wrench to tighten and/ or remove a nut or bolt without removing the wrench from the nut or bolt with which it is engaged, the wrench being of simple construction and conforming to conventional forms of manufacture so as to provide a device which will be both economically feasible and durable in construction.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to Patented Sept. 19, 1961 the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of the ratcheting end wrench with parts of the head portions thereof being broken away and shown in section, the jaws of the wrench being shown embracing a conventional nut and the handle thereof being shown in position to tighten the nut which is provided with right hand threads;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view similar to FIG- URE 1 but with the handle of the wrench shown in a pivoted position in a counterclockwise direction and the jaws of the wrench spread apart by the camming action of the nut to enable the wrench to be moved about the nut in a counterclockwise direction without effecting rotation of the nut;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of the wrench similar to that of FIGURE 1 showing the position of the component parts of the wrench with the latter in position to again tighten the right hand threaded nut;

' FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view like that of FIG- URES l and 3 of a modified form of ratcheting end wrench which may be used to turn a nut or bolt in only one direction and having incorporated therein a selector mechanism for retaining the jaws of the wrench a selected distance apart;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the wrench shown in FIGURE 4 showing more clearly the details of construction of the selector mechanism;

FIGURE 6 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing through the center of the selector mechanism;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged perspective view of the latch member used in that form of the ratcheting end wrench shown in FIGURES 1 through 3;

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged perspective view of the abutment mechanism which is carried by the latch mechanism;

FIGURE 9 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing through the center of the latch member shown in FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 10 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken substantially along a plane lying on the upper surface of the actuating arm shown in FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 11 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially upon a plane extending longitudinally of the abutment bar shown in FIGURE 1.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates the ratcheting end wrench comprising the present invention which includes a head portion generally referred to by the reference numeral 12 having a stationary jaw 14 and a movable jaw 16. Each of the jaws 14 and 16 has a work engaging surface 18 and it will be noted that the work engaging surfaces 18 are in parallel opposed relation as is customary.

The movable jaw 16 is slidably secured within the head portion 12 in any convenient manner and with particular reference to FIGURES 1 through 3 it will be seen that the movable jaw 16 is provided with a slide member 20 having a pair of channels 22 formed therein. It is to be understood that the head portion 12 is conveniently provided with projections (not shown) receivable in the channels 22 and thatit may also be conveniently supplied with further suitable means (not shown) for embracing and slidably receiving the slide 20.

The movable jaw 16 is resiliently urged towards abutting contact relation with the stationary jaw 14 by means of an expansion spring 24 which is secured between the two jaWs.14 and 16 in any convenient manner.

The surface of the slide 20 remote from the jaws 14 and 16 is provided with a plurality of teeth 26, the teeth 26 opening away from the expansion spring 24.

Slidably disposed in the head portion 12 .in any convenient manner is a latch 28 which is movable toward and away from the surface of the slide 20 on which the teeth 26 are disposed. The .end of the latch .28 adjacent the slide 20 is provided with teeth 30 which open toward the expansion spring 24 and are engagable-with teeth 26. The latch 28 is yieldably urged toward aposition engaging the teeth .26 by means of compression spring 32 which is disposed between anabutment 34 securedwithin thehead portion 12 and the end of a blind bore 3.5 formed .in the end of thelatch 28 remote from the movable jaw 16.

It will thus be apparent from FIGURES 1 through 3 that the latch 28 is normally urgedinto engagement with the movable jaw 16 to restrict its movement away from the stationary jaw 14. Pivotally secured within the headportion 12 by means of pivot pin 36 is one end of an operating arm 38, there being an opening 40 provided in the head portion 12 receiving'the pivoted end of the operating lever 38. The operating arm 38, with attention drawn more particularly to FIGURES 1 through 3, may be moved between two limit positions contacting the opposite sidesof the opening '40, see FIGURES 1 and 2. Secured to opposite sides of the operating arm 38 by means of pivot'pin 42 at the intersection of the two legs of each are a pair of L-shaped actuating levers generally referred to by the reference numeral 44. Each of the -L-shaped members 44 ha "one leg 46 which'projects towards the latch 28 and'is receivedin the corresponding arcuate slot 48 formed therein. The other leg 50 of each of the L-shaped actuating levers 44 is provided with an elongated slot 52 which receives 'a pin 54 secured in and extending from the adjacent side 56 of the head portion 12. It will be noted that each of the legs 50 projects in opposite directions from the pin 42 so that upon the movement of the operating arm 38 the legs 46 will move in opposite directions relative to each other through their respective slots 48.

Rotatably journalled through the latch '28 is an abutment bar generally referred to by the reference numeral 58. With attention now directed more particularly to FIGURES 7, 8 and 11 of the drawings, it will be noted that the abutment bar 58 is provided with a pair of transversely extending notches 60 which are each in alignment with one of the actuating levers 44. Each of the notches 60 extendapproximately to the longitudinal center line of the abutment rod 58 and it will be noted that the notches are positioned on opposite sides thereof. Formed on the abutment rod 58 in transverse alignment with and oppo site each notch 60 i an abutment block or projection 62 whose purpose is to be hereinafter set forth.

With particular attention now directed to FIGURES 8 and 9 it will be noted that the mid-portion of the abutment rod 58 is provided with a pair of flat recesses 66 which are disposed on opposite sides of the abutment rod '58. A retaining detent 68 is secured within blind bore 70 formed in the latch 28 and is yieldably urged into contact with the abutment bar 58 by means of compression spring 72. Thus it may be seen that the detent 68 will be yield-ably urged into contact with the abutment rod 58 and seated within one of the recesses 66 to frictionally retain the abutment bar 58 in selected rotated positions within the latch 28.

With attention now directed more panticularly t FIGURES 1 through 3 and FIGURE 11, it will be noted that inasmuch as the legs 46 of the actuating levers 44 move in opposite directions relative to each other upon movement of the operating arm 38 that one of the abutments 62 may be positioned so as to be engaged by the leg 46 moving away from the jaws 14 and 16 of the wrench 19. In FIGURE 1 the abutment block 62 on the abutment bar 58 is positioned tobe engaged by the leg 46 of the actuating lever 44 on the front side of the operating arm 38. With attention drawn more particularly to FIGURE 2 it will be noted that upon movement of the operating arm 38 in a counterclockwise direction that the last mentioned 'leg 46 will engage the corresponding abutment "62 to move the latch 28 away from the jaws 14 and 16 thereby disengaging the teeth 26 and 30 and enabling the jaw .16 to be moved away from the jaw 14 by the camming action of the nut 74. This enables the Wrench 10 to be moved in a counterclockwise direction without afiecting rotation of the nut 74, whereupon the latter may be gripped again by the Wrench as shown in FIGURE 3. With the wrench 10 positioned as in FIGURE 3 the operating arm 38 may be moved in a clockwise direction with the latch 28 again engaged with the slide 20 on the movable jaw 16 to retain the jaws in spaced relation frictionally engaging the opposite sides of the nut 74 to turn the latter in a clockwise direction.

With attention now directed more particularly to FIGURE 11 of the drawings it will be noted that the abutment rod 58 extends through one of the side Walls 56 and is provided with a thumb lever 76. Thus it can be seen that the thumb lever 76 may be engaged by a person handling the wrench 10 to rotate the abutment rod 58, 180 to a position with the other abutment block 62 in position to be engaged by the corresponding leg 46.

With the abutment rod so positioned the movement of the latch 28 in response to the rocking motion of the operating arm 38 will be exactly opposite to that Which has been herein previously set forth. Thus, the wrench '10 may then be used as a ratchet wrench to loosen or rotate the nut '74 in a counterclockwise direction.

With attention directed now more particularly to FIGURES 4 through 6 of the drawings, there will be seen a modified form of the ratchet wrench generally referred to by reference numeral 110. The ratchet wrench is provided with a head portion 112 as Was ratchet wrench 10 and has a stationary jaw 114 and a movable jaw 116. Similarly, the slide is provided with teeth 126 and the latch '128 is provided with teeth 130. However, the latch 128 is provided with only a single slot 182 and the operating arm 138 is provided with a single actuating lever 144. The mounting of the actuating lever 144 is substantially the same as the mounting of the operating levers 44 and it will be apparent that upon downward movement of the operating arm 138 that the leg 146 of the actuating lever 144 will move toward the jaws 114 and 116 thereby enabling the latch 128 to engage the movable jaw 116 and retain the latter in position relative to the stationary jaw 114. Secured through the latch 128 is an abutment rod 158 which is fixedly secured therein and is engageable by the leg 146 upon the movement of the operating arm 138 in a counterclockwise direction to disengage the latch 128 from the movable jaw 116.

It will thus be seen that the wrench 110 may be used as a ratchet wrench to rotate a nut or bolt in only one direction necessitating that the wrench be removed and turned over to rotate a nut or bolt in the opposite direction.

The wrench 110 is provided with a limiting mechanism generally referred to by the reference numeral 100 which comprises a stop lever 102 having one end pivotally secured in the head portion 112 by means of pivot pin 104 and the other end is yieldably urged into contact with "limiting pin 162 by means of coil spring 108. The adjacent side wall 156 of the wrench 110 is provided with a vertically extending slot 159 having a plurality of angulated slots 160 extending laterally from both sides thereof. The slots 160 disposed on one side of the slot 159 are staggered in relation to the slots 160 disposed on the other side of the slot 159 and there is provided a limiting pm 162 whichis slidably disposed in the slots 159 and 160 having enlarged head portions 164 disposed :on opposite sides of the side wall 156. The limiting lever 102 is spring urged by means of coil spring 108 away from jaw 116 into engagement with the undersurface of the limiting pin 162 and thus it may be seen that the latter will be retained in position in a selected one of the slots 160 and that the movement of the movable jaw 116 toward the stationary jaw 114 may be limited by positioning the limiting pin 162 in the desired slot 160 whereby the shoulder portion 106 of the slide 120 will contact the undersurface of the limiting lever 102 to stop the movement of the jaw 116 toward the jaw 114. Thus, the limiting mechanism 100 may be adjustably positioned to retain the jaws 114 and 116 in spaced relation relative to each other to receive therebetween a nut or bolt head of any dimensions within the limitations of the wrench 110.

With particular attention directed now to FIGURE 3 of the drawings it will be noted that the side wall 56 through which the abutment rod 58 projects is provided with a suitable elongated slot 78 for the purpose of enabling the abutment rod 58 to move with the latch 28.

It is to be understood that although the pin 42 has been shown secured to the operating handle 38 and that the pin 54 has been shown secured to the opposite side wall 56 of the head portion 12, that the pins 42 and 54 may be secured to the opposite members without affecting any change in operation of the wrench other than reversing the movement of the actuating levers 44 and necessitating the reversal of the position of the abutment rod 58 to ratchet the wrench in the desired direction.

Further, it is to be noted that the limiting mechanism 100 may also be conveniently incorporated into the wrench 10.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A ratcheting end wrench comprising a wrench head having a pair of jaw members associated therewith one movable relative to the other, means resiliently urging said jaw members toward each other, an operating arm having one end pivotally secured to said head for movement between two limits, a latch engageable with said movable jaw member for limiting the movement of the latter away from the stationary jaw member, means normally urging said latch into engagement with said movable jaw member, abutment means carried by said latch, actuating means operatively connected to said operating arm and engageable with said abutment means for disengaging said latch from said movable jaw member upon movement of said operating arm toward one limit position.

2. A ratcheting end wrench comprising a wrench head having a pair of jaw members associated therewith one movable relative to the other, means resiliently urging said jaw members toward each other, an operating arm having one end pivotally secured to said head for movement between two limits, a latch engageable with said movable jaw member for limiting the movement of the latter away from the stationary jaw member, means normally urging said latch into engagement with said movable jaw member, abutment means carried by said latch, actuating means operatively connected to said operating arm and engageable with said abutment means for disengaging said latch trom said movable jaw member upon movement of said operating arm toward one limit position, said actuating means including a pair of levers operatively connected to said operating arm for opposite movement relative to each other upon movement of said operating arm, said abutment means being movable between two positions engageable by a selected one of said levers.

3. The combination of claim 1 including means for limiting the movement of said one jaw member toward the other.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said limiting means is adjustable.

5. The combination of claim 2 wherein said levers each comprise L-shaped members having two legs, said members each being pivotally secured to said handle for movement about an axis extending transversely thereof at the intersection of its legs and to said head by a pin and slot connection at the end of one its legs with the other leg extending outwardly therefrom in a plane parallel to the plane in which said arm moves, said levers extending from the same side of said handle with said one leg angulated in opposite directions.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein the axes of rotation of said levers are aligned and said levers are disposed on opposite sides of said arm.

7. The combination of claim 2 including means for limiting the movement of said one jaw member toward the other.

8. The combination of claim 7 wherein said limiting means is adjustable.

9. The combination of claim 2 including means for frictionally retaining said abutment means in selected positions.

10. A ratcheting end wrench comprising a wrench head having a pair of jaw members one movable relative to the other, means resiliently urging said jaw members toward each other, an operating arm having one end mounted on said head for movement between limits, movable latch means normally resiliently urged to a position limiting movement of the movable jaw away from the stationary jaw, actuating means connected to said operating arm and engageable with said latch means for disengaging the latter to enable free movement of said jaw members away from each other upon movement of said operating arm toward one limit position.

11. A ratcheting end wrench comprising a wrench head having a pair of jaw members, means mounting one jaw member for guided movement relative to the other jaw member toward and away from the latter through a path of movement having limits through which said one jaw member is free to travel, means resiliently urging said jaw members towardeach other, movable latch means for limiting movement of said one jaw member away from the other jaw member engageable with said one jaw member at any point throughout its path of movement to prevent further movement of said one jaw member away from said other jaw member, and actuating means movably mounted on said one jaw and engageable with said latch means for disengaging the latter from said one jaw member to enable further movement of said one jaw member away from said other jaw member upon movement of said actuating means in one direction relative to said other jaw member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,414,817 Kirkpatrick May 2, 1922 1,468,211 Quist Sept. 18, 1923 1,471,413 Palmeter Oct. 23, 1923 1,571,328 Flanigan Feb. 2, 1926 1,616,871 Salvucci Feb. 8, 1927 1,628,842 Horsburgh May 17, 1927 1,720,650 Purdy July 9, 1929 2,471,537 Norman May 31, 1949 

